Bread slicer



June 7, 1927. 7 1,631,231

H. STUKART BREAD SLICER Filed Dec. 51, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 1927. June H. STUKART BREAD SLICER Filed Dec. 51, 1923 "I Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1927. 1,631,231 H. STUKART BREAD SLICER Filed Dec. 31, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 H. STUKART fun: 7, 1927.

BREAD SLICER Filed Dec oifrl, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 u i IIEiIi-Izi Hlllllll H.STUKART June 7, 1927.

BREAD SLICER Filed D60. 31, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 1;? fen o'rx 1, June 7, 1927. I I H. STUKART 631231 BREAD SLICER Filed Dec. 31. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 7, 1927. 1 1,631,231

H. s'ruKAR'r BREAD SLICER Filed Dec. 31, 1923 '7 Shoots-Sheet 7 Patented June 7, 1927.

umran STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENDBIK STUKABT, OF LA PORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. SLICING MACHINE COMPANY, 01 LA PORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

BREAD SLIGEB.

Application filed December 31, 1923. Serial No. 683,547.

v This invention relates to a device for slicing bread or other elongated material and has for its object the provision of a machine of the class named which shall be of improved "construction and operation and which shall be provided with power driving mechanism. The inventionis exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig 1 is a side elevation of a slicing machine showing. one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail;

Fig. 3 is a rear-end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing the driving gears for the knife;

Fig. 5 is a front end elevation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing one of the holding prongs for the loaf;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the rear end of the machine showing the driving motor;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the rear end of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the front end of the machine; I

Fig. 10 is atop plan view of the front portion of the slideway for the loaf with the frame in section;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view through the casing for the slicing knife;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the closure forthe opening in the case through which the grinder operates;

Fig. 13 is a detail showing the adjusting mechanism for changing the thickness of slices;

Fig 14 is a transverse sectional" view showing the connection between the loaf holder and its driving screw;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the loaf holder;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the half nut or toothed member for engaging the driving screw;

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the loaf holder; and

Fig. 18 isa longitudinal sectional view showing the bearing for the rear end of the feed screw.

As shown in Fig. 1, the slicing machine comprises a front frame member 20 and a rear frame member 21 connected by s acing rods 22 and a slideway 23 for the loaf to be sliced. A drive shaft 24 extends from front to rear of the machine and is journaled in the frames 20 and 21. A hollow tube or casing 25 surrounds the drive shaft 24 and serves as a spacing member between the front and rear frames.

As shown in Fig. 9, the front frame member 20 is provided with a: journal bearing 26 for the shaft 24 supported in the rear plate 27 of the frame member. A second bearing 28 in longitudinal alinement with the bearin 26 carries a stud shaft 29 having a bearing ushing 30 journaled thereon. A U-shaped bracket or counterweight 31 is secured to the forward end of the shaft 24 and is supported by the bearing 30 so as to rotate independently of the shaft 29 and in unison with the shaft 24. The bracket 31 carries an arm 32 having a shaft 33 journaled therein to which is secured a slicing knife 34. The knife 34 is'concave on its rear face so that in operation the edge only of the knife will contact With the loaf from which the slices are being out.

A pinion 35 is fixed to the shaft 33 and meshes with an idler 36 carried by a stud shaft 37 on the bracket 32, as shown in Fig. 4. The idler 36 meshes with a gear 38 secured to the rear end of the shaft 29. The front end of the shaft 29 is provided with a hand crank 39 and an arm 40 which is provided with a spring-pressed locking bolt 41 arranged to enter a depression in the casing member for the knife and thus lock the shaft 29 and gear 38 against rotation. It will be apparent that under these conditions rotation of the shaft 24 will cause the idler 36 totravel about the periphery of the gear 38 and thus impart a rotation to the disc knife 34 in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the shaft 24.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rear frame 21 carriesa bracket 42 having a spring bolt 43' similar to the bolt 41. The spring bolt 43 is arranged to enter either one of a pair of depressions 44 and 45 in a disc 46 sccurcd'to the rear end of the shaft 24. When the bolt 43 enters the depression 45 the arm 32 is locked in its uppermost pos tion, as shown in Fig. 9. With the arm thus locked the bolt 41 may be withdrawn and held in a retracted position by a cross-pin 47. This will permit rotation of the hand-crank 39 which in turn drives the pinions 36 and 35 and imparts rotation to the knife 34 about its own axis at a greater rate of speed than that caused by the rotation of the arm 32 about the axis of the drive shaft.

The upper portion of the knife housing is provided with an opening which may be closed by a cover plate 48 shown more clearly in Figs. 3, 11 and 12. When the cover plate is withdrawn, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 11, the upper portion of the knife is accessible for sharpening. This operation may be accomplished by a grinder indicated generally by the numeral 49 which may be of any well-known and approved construction and which is movable into and out of position to engage the edge of the knife. It should be noted that the cover plate 48 slides to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, and that it is provided with a handle 50 at its right-hand end so that in opening the cover the operators hand moves away from the opening and not across the opening as would be the case if he should grasp the left-hand end of the cover plate. The knob 50 is purposely put in this position to prevent the operator from striking the edge of the knife when he opens the cover.

When the bolt 43 enters the depression 44 the knife 34 will be locked in its lowermost position in registration with the opening at the bottom of the frame 20 through which the loaf of bread is fed during slicing operations. By rotating the hand crank 39 with the blade in its lowermost position access may be had to the entire surface of the blade for cleaning-or other purposes.

The loaf of bread 51 is fe along the slideway or support23 by means of a follower 52. As shown in Fig. 15, the follower 52 is provided with a jaw 53 having downwardly extending teeth 54 for engaging the top of the loaf. The jaw 53 is forced downwardly upon the loaf by spring plungers 55 in the follower frame. A pivot rod 56 sup ports the jaw in position on the follower frame. At the front of the frame 52 there is an abutment plate 57 having forwardly projecting pins or teeth 58 for engaging the rear of the loaf, as shown in Fig. 6. These teeth may be threaded and screwed into the plate 57 from the front face, the rearwardly projecting end being headed over as shown at 59 to prevent any possibility of forward movement of the teeth relative to the plate. This precaution is desirable since the extremeforward movement of the follower brings the teeth 58 near to the path of the slicing knife and it should not be possible for the teeth to become unscrewed a sufficient distance to engage the slicing knife.

As shown in Fig. 14, the slideway 23 com prises a pair of sheet metal plates 60 and 61, the rear plate being bent upwardly to provide an abutment'wall at the rear of the slideway, while the front plate is bent downwardly leaving the front face of the slideway entirely free and open so that it is easily accessible for placing the loaf in position. The plates 60 and 61 are supported on guide rails 62 and 63, respectively, which extend from the front frame 20 to the rear frame 21 and are held in place by screws 65, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The follower frame 52 is supported on a runner 66 which slides upon the guides 62 and 63 and projects upwardly through the central slot between the plates 60 and 61. A spring friction member 67 bears against the rail 62 to prevent overthrow during the feeding operation of the follower. A feed screw 68 is journaled beneath the slideway 23 111112 engages a toothed member 69 carried by the runner 66. A spring 70 normally presses the toothed member 69 into engagement with the feed screw 68 and a stud 7]. projects downwardly into position to engage an arm 72 carried by an upright disc shaft 7 At the upper end'of the disc shaft 73 a finger 7 4 engages a plunger 75 which is held in retracted position by a spring 76. The plunger 75 may be projected against the finger 7 4 by a handle 77 mounted on the follower 52. The handle 77 is provided with a cam face 78 for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4, so that movement of the handle 77 in either direction will project the plunger 75 and release the nut 69. To adjust the follower on the slideway 23, therefore, it is only necessary to grasp the handle and force it in the direction in which it is desired to move the follower, the operation releasing the toothed member 69.

The feed screw 68 is 'onrnaled at its rear end in a bushing 7 9 in the frame member 21, the screw having a reduced portion to provide a shoulder which bears against the bushing and frame member and takes the thrust due to the forward feeding movement of the follower 52 at its forward end.

The feed screw 68 is provided with a re-v duced bearing portion 80 which is journale'd in a bushing 81 carried in an opening in the frame member 20. The opening through the frame member is of sufiicient size to permit the feed screw 68 to be passed rearwardl therethrough when the machine is assembled, after which the bushing 81 is placed in position and held in place by a spring-pressed plug 83. This arrangement permits the bearing openings for the shaft 68 to be finished in alinement after the frame parts have been assembled. after which the shaft may be placed in position. .lf the shaft 68 were placed in position at the time the frame parts are secured to ether it would be necessary to assemble the frame parts and aline the near ing openings, otter which the frame parts would have to be disconnected to insert the shaft 68.

It will be noted from Fig. 2' that v the threads on the feed screw 68 terminate short oi the forward end of the screw and that the forward end of the screw is provided with a solid shoulder portion. During the feeding operation the toothed member 69 is fed forwerdly past the threads into the space be-,

o sleeve slidably mounted an arm 8? which lS'Pli/Oifid at 88 on the rear frame memher 21.. A roller 89 is carried on the opposite end of the arm 87 from the sleeve 86 and losers against 2. hi) on the main diive shaft A spring $1 normally holds the roller ssieinst the face of the com 2%. oi is room drive shaft ch is transmitted to oscillates the arm 8? we the one-way clutch by the link 85. h

intermittent i screw 68 and advancing; the follower 52 one step for each rotetio of the their. drive shezit. The amount 0? movement corise orient-l the thickness of the slices is regs leted by th .positiou of the sleeve so on the arm @5 1 A thumb screw 92 is provided or holding the sleeve 86 in its adjusted goose ions and an indicator 93 is attached to the sleeve 86 and registers with e scale on the arm 87 to indicate the thickness oi the slice.

As shown best in Fig. 8., the rear end of the drive shaft 2% is provided with a flywheel 95 about which e-helt 96 passes. The belt 96 is enclosed in a housing 9? and engages a drive pulley 98 carriedby the shaft 99 of e motor 100. The housing QZ-is suppormd hy the freme 21 and the bracket 4-2. The motor 100 is .Ino-urited on a hose 101 which is pivotelly supported at 102 on obese *olete 10% upon which the main frame of, i l

the slicing machine rests. The motor 100 may be'swung uponits pivotal support 102 to cdjust the position oi the drive pulley 98 and regulate the tension in the belt 86.- A hi'ecl t ii i is carried by the loose plate 103 and p'lovide d with e slot 105 through which 2. stud holt 106 extends. The bolt 10% is attached to the motor hose 101 end is provided with s wine" out 107 which the motor hose H15?" he looked in its adjusted posi- 'iIlOllS if desired. Tr: some cases it may he advisable to lee-veloose so that the weight of the motor will exert tension on the driving belt and thus autometicelly keep the belt tout.

. An ouxiliary wheel 108 may be attached to the fly-wheel 95 Mid extend through an openirig 109 in ti e casing 9?, thus providing nice-ms for turning the shaft 24 by hand. A supporting her or plate 110 is provided for the front frame member 20 in order to support both ends of the machine at the same height. The pistes 1'03 and 110 are provided with resilient feet 111 and are separable from the trams parts of the machine.

The arrangement is such that the slicing machine niey be readily converted from heed to a. power machine, or vice verse, as circumstances may warrant. Ti :1 hand roe-- chine is desired it is only necessary to reiriove the auxiliary wheel 108 and the casing 97 and lift the machine m the supports 103 and 11 9. A proper handle is then etteched to the fly-wh el 95 for heed operation. II" an operator is eedy supplied r machine it be readily transformed o power mechine by s l l 1G3 1.10 with thei including e motor d viiig belt casing. enehles to pu i and i izods o. M.) ouires ssh irig abutment 'howhet 112 iii J3. 01 1 i insures a support or i i the side ie knife is v during. cutting operation. The abutment 112 extends heyor d the fees 113 of the receiving chute so that the slice is free from support at the poirzt where the cutting piece. This prevents the slice from losing drawn into the slot through no which the knife passes and insures a clean sheering action. Forthe same reason the hottom of the runway, as shown at 11 1- in Fig. 9 of the drawings, is elevated above the bottom 115 of the slice-receiving chute. it its will lee noted that the slice'receivihg chute 11.5 is inclined downwardly away from the lo e and follower 11% is provided in the ,cirste against which the slices 11'} rest tilts them ill'i/D their i I 1 the some time c "rem so to prov'de the driving gears for the l mite If a very high loaf is used the top of the slice may be bent forwardly an amount suflicient to permitthe blade to extend even past the supporting shaft 33 between the slice and the loaf. This permits slicing a larger loaf for a given sized knife than would be possible if the gear casing 119 were not provided with a beveled wedging portion to separate the slice from the loaf while it is being severed. This feature is of great importance in maintaining as small'a casing as possible for the slicing knife. Any in-' crease in the diameter of the knife necessary for cutting slices of the required size is magnified in the knife casing since the orbit of the knife is increased about its entire periphery an. amount e( ual to the increase in the radius of the bla e.

A safety closure 120 is provided for the front face of the opening in the frame 30 so that accidental contact with the knife is avoided when the machine is not in use. The closure 120 may be provided, with a catch 121 for holding it in its open position when the machine is being operated. A plate 122 is adjustablysecured to the frame 20 at the front side of the slot through which the knife passes and against'the face of the opening toward which the knife moves during a slicing operation. This plate 122 has its rear edge 123 shaped to conform to the contour of the knife and is adjustably held in place by screws 124 so that it may be accurately positioned to close K the slot through which the knife passes.

This close fit is desired to prevent the slices from being drawn into the slot and in conjunction/with the offset relation of the face F2 12 has been foundvery efiicient in prevent- H1 7 g mutilation of the slices in this way.

I claim 1. A bread slicing machine comprising a drive shaft, a knife mounted upon an axis eccentric of said drive shaft and bodily moved by said drive shaft for severing slices from a loaf of bread, means for rotating said knife about said axis while said axis is held stationary and a power motor for rotating said drive shaft.

2. A slicing machine comprising a drive shaft, a disc knife connected with said drive shaft with. its axis offset relative to the axis of said drive shaft, a counterweight for said disc knife secured to said drive shaft, means for rotating said disc knife about its own axis when said drive shaft is rotated to bodily move said knifeabout the axis of said drive shaft, and a power motor for operat'- ing said drive shaft.

3. A slicing machine comprisin a drive shaft, a ti -shaped bracket secure to said drive shaft, a disc knife connected with said drive shaft and journaled to rotate about an axis spaced from the axis ofsaid drive shaft,

' said knife extendin the axis of said drive shaft within the opening in said U- shaped bracket, planetary gearing for rotating said knife about its own axis when said drive shaft is rotated to move said knife bodily about the axis of said drive shaft, said Ushaped bracket being weighted to supply a couterweight for said knife, and a power motor for rotating said drive shaft. 4. A slicing machine comprising a main frame a base plate on which said main frame detachably rests, and a power motor mounted on said base plate in position to drive said slicing machine when said main frame rests on said base plate.

5. A slicing machine comprising a main frame having front and rear frame portions, separatenuxiliary supports for said front and rear frame portions upon which said front and rear portions detachably rest respectively, and a power motor mounted on one of said auxiliary supports in position to drive said slicing machine when said main frame rests on said support.

(3. A slicing machine comprising a main frame member, a slicing knife, actuating mechanism for said knife mounted on said main frame member, the whole constituting an operable machine adapted to be hand actuated, a base plate, a power motor mounted on said base plate, and means for detachably connecting said base plate with said main frame member to retain said power motor in position to drive said slicing machine.

7. A slicing machine comprising a, main frame, a slicing knife mounted on said main frame, actuating mechanism mounted on saidmain frame, the whole constituting an nperable unit adapted to be hand actuated,

- an auxiliary supporting base platoon which said main frame is adapted to rest, a motor pivotally mounted on said base plate, and means for driving said actuating mechanism from said motor when said main frame is in position on said base plate.

8. A slicing machinecomprising a main frame, a slicing knife mounted on said main frame, actuating mechanism for said slicing knife mounted on said main frame, the whole constituting an operable unit adapted to be hand actuated, an auxiliary supporting base plate upon which said main frame is adapted to rest, a motor pivotally mounted on said auxiliary base plate, and a belt for connecting said motor to said actuating mechanism in position to sustain a portion of the weight of said motor.

9. A slicing machine comprising a main frame, a' drive shaft mounted on said main frame, a slicin knife connected with said drive shaft an actuated thereby, a. drive wheel connected with said shaft, an auxiliary base plate upon which said main frame is detachably supported, a base memleer pivotally mounted on said auxiliary base relate, a motor carried to said base member knife, means or moving said knife bodily about an axis spaced from the -axis of said knife, a power motor for driving said moving means, means for holding said knife against bodily movement, hand actuated means separate from said moving means for.

rotating said knife about its own axis when so held, and a sharpening device for-engaging said knife during said hand operation;

11. A slicing machine comprising a disc knife, a main drive shaft, means for supporting said knife in offset relation relative to the axis of said main drive shaft, a power motor for rotating said drive shaft to carry said knife bodily about the axis of said main drive shaft toengage an article to be sliced, means for rotating said knife upon its own axis during bodily movement thereof, means for locking said knife against bodily movement, hand actuated means for rotating said knife about its own axis when locked against bodily movement, and a sharpening device for engaging said knife during hand operation thereof.

12. A slicing machine comprising a rotary knife,'means for supporting said knife for movement about anaxis s aced from the axis of said hife, means or looking said knife against bodily movement in two different positions, and means for rotating said knife about its own axis when' locked in either one of said positions.

13. A slicing machine comprising a rotary -knife','means for supporting said knife for movement in an orbit about an axis spaced from the axis of said knife, a casing for enclosing saidv bite in its orbital movement and having an opening therethrough'to admit material into the path of said knife to be sliced, means for locking said knife against orbital movement while extending into said 0 eningyand means for rotating said knife a cut its own axis while so locked to bring the various portions of said knife into said opening.

M. A slicing machine comprising a rotary knife, means for moving said knife bodily past a slicing position to perform a slicing operation, and means for locking saidknife in said slicing position to expose said knife to be cleans 7 15. A slicing machine comprising a casing having an opening therethrough, a knife arranged to move bodily past said opening to slice material positioned in said opening,

means for loch'ng said knife against bodily movement when extending into said opening, and mean-s for rotatlng said knife while so locked to bring various portions thereof into said opening to permit said knife to be cleaned.

16. A slicing machine comprising a casing haying an opening therethrough, a rotary knife mounted in said casing and bodily movable past said opening to perform slic ing operations, a second opening in said casing, and means for locking said knife against bodily movement in two different p0 sitions in which a portion of said knife extends into one or the other of said openings.

17. A slicing machine comprising a casing having an opening therein,,a rotary knife mounted in said casing to move bodily past said opening to perform slicing operations, said casing having a second opening therein spaced from said first-mentioned opening, means for locking said knife against bodily movement in two different positions in which a portion of said knife extends into one or the other of said openings, means for rotating said knife upon its own axis when locked against bodily movement, and a sharpener arranged to engage said knife when locked in position to extend into said second-mentioned opening.

18. A slicing machine comprising a casing having an opening therein, a slicing knife mounted in said casing and bodily movable therein, means for locking said knife in position to project into said opening, a cover for said opening mounted on said casing and movable in one direction away from said vopening, and a handle for said cover connected thereto adjacent the portion thereof toward which said cover moves away from said opening.

19. A slicing machine comprising a casing having an opening therein, a knife mounted in said casing and arranged to project into said opening, a closure for said opening arranged to move into either closed or opened position, and a handle for said closure connected to said closure at the side thereof awa from said opening when said closure is moved into open position.

20. In a slicing machine, a support for an article to be sliced having an'abutment wall beyond which said article projects during a slicing operation, and a knife arranged to move toward said wall and past the cd e thereof during a slicing operation, said wa 1 having an abutment portion projecting from the plane thereof toward said article at the edge adjacent said knife.

, 21. A bread slicing machine comprising a slideway for a loaf of bread, a slicm knife mounted to move past the end of sai slide way, and an abutment wall at the side of said slideway toward which said knife moves, said abutment wall being shaped to Way to rovide a support for engaging the loaf of reed the of said slidevvsy and adjacent said knife,

932 A slicing machine comprising a slideway for a loaf of bread, said slideway having one side thereof open end having an shntrnent Well the opposite side thereof, a slicing knife arranged to move past the end of said slideivay for severing slices from s loaf of bread, a receiver spaced from the end of said slideivay to provide passage for a knife hes said rec 2 being offset downwardly from the bottom said slideway, and a projectahu'tinent at the side of said slidevvay toid v i said knife moves and at the end cent seid lrnife,

'. machine com firising a supi article to be sliced, knife on move past one edge of said sup- 1 slice, from an erticle thereon, a said s ices spaced from said i a for said knife,

adiacent the path of sa side thereof opposite supjnstahl mounted for movement from said knife. sing machine comprising supicle to he sliced, disc-shaped st one edge of said support from said article's plate id edge support, the

sing shaped to conform e opposite said sup- ,gnstahly holding snid thereof adath of said lrrs.

machine comprising a suparticle 40 d tiole to project beyond one support, a'concavo convex disc livable past the edge of said support to sever slices from article, said knife having its concave face adjacent said support, means for rotating; said. knife about an axis spaced from the axis thereof to move said llnire bodily pest said support,

said slideway and receiver,

to be sliced, means foranswer and means for rotating said knife upon 5 own axis in e direction of rotation opposite to its rotation about said spaced axis during a slicing operation.

26. A slicing machine comprising a support for an article to be sliced, a slicing knife movable bodily past one edge ofisaid support, a. follower for feeding articles along said support toward said knife, pins projecting from said follower in the direction of movement thereof for engaging the rear face ofsaid article, and e clamping device for engaging the top of said .articre.

27. A slicing machine comprising a slide- Way, a follower having an abutment plate for engaging the rear race of an article to move said article along said slidevvay, and a pin projecting forwardly from the engaging face of said plate, seid pin being threaded through said plate from the front to rear thereof and having a rearvvardly projecting portion heeded over to prevent unscrewing of said pin from seid plate.

A slicing machine comprising a drive shaft, mesh-s for locking drive shaft against rotation, locking comprising a, m mber having tapered opening therein, and s holt arranged to he pr l into said opening hnvi of tapered to conform Wit opening,

29. A slicing ins-chine comprising slicing knife, a drive for moving seid knife bodily, means for locking drive shaft to hold said knife in fixed position, said locking means comprising a member seciired to said drive shaft and having a pair of openings therein, a spring-pressed holt for selectively engaging said openings and a stop for retaining said holt in retracted position to permit rotation of said drive shaft.

ln testimony whereof have signed my till Ell

of December, n. recs,

HEND 'HK S'EUKART. 

